(December 29, 2020) – The Philippines announced on Tuesday a travel ban on 20 countries where the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) variant was reported, then withdrew it just an hour later.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)-Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday noon the development, which was said to be effective on Tuesday midnight.
This supposedly affects passengers coming from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Israel, Hong Kong, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, Singapore, Lebanon, Japan, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Australia, France, Iceland, and South Korea.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) then clarified that the said travel ban was effective on midnight of Wednesday, not Tuesday.
In an additional statement, the DOTr added this was already agreed upon by the (IATF-EID) on Monday.
“The restriction applies to all travelers/passengers, whether Filipinos or foreigners,” said the DOTr.
But to add to the confusion, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denied that such a travel ban has been announced.
“Is there now currently a travel ban? My answer is no. Will there be? Perhaps, let’s wait for it. Will there be in the future? It has been highly recommended, a decision is forthcoming, sandali lang po,” said Roque during his press briefing, which happened during the same period that the NAIA announcement was released.
MIAA swiftly deleted its Facebook update, while the DOTr locked its post.
“Please be informed that the travel ban to the said countries was just a recommendation by the IATF with no finalization or formal approval yet. We strongly apologize for the misunderstanding the post has caused,” the MIAA said.
Roque insisted that guidelines are still being drafted by the Office of the Executive Secretary to ensure that overseas Filipinos who wish to come home would still be allowed to.
At least three people were pushing for the widespread travel ban, according to Roque, including Department of Health secretary Francisco Duque III and Department of Education secretary Leonor Briones.
“At one point, sabi ni Presidente, let me sleep on it,” said Roque.
Over the weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to extend the travel ban from the United Kingdom for another two weeks which was originally set to lapse on December 31.
A mandatory 14-day quarantine regardless of test results was also approved for travelers coming from countries that already have a record of the new COVID-19 variant, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.
On Tuesday, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan said they are mulling a lockdown after the new strain was reportedly found in the nearby area of Sabah in Malaysia.
(Reports from Jenny Dongon, Ria Fernandez | Katrina Elaine Alba/PM)
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